C-130 Hercules no. 1847 passes through the ceremonial water spray from two fire trucks at an air base in Southwest Asia after completing its final combat mission Jan. 28.
After 47 years of service, the aircraft is being retired.
January 30, 2009
Seabees Arrive In Afghanistan
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Jan. 28, 2009) Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 depart an Air Force C-17 aircraft following its arrival at a forward operating base.
NMCB-7 is deployed to Afghanistan to provide contingency construction support to Alliance forces supporting NATO International Security Assistance Forces.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Lavender/Released)
Distinguished Visitors Observe Hawkeye Landing
PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 26, 2009) Distinguished visitors observe an E-2C Hawkeye landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).
The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle Steckler/Released)
Harpers Ferry Departs Okinawa On Spring Patrol
OKINAWA, Japan (Jan 29, 2009) The crew of an amphibious assault vehicle assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aligns their craft in the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) before Harpers Ferry departs on a spring patrol.
Harpers Ferry operates as part of the only forward-deployed U.S. expeditionary strike group and is part of Task Force 76.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew R. White/Released)
Tortuga Departs Okinawa For Cobra Gold 09
SEA OF JAPAN (Jan. 29, 2009) Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Daniel Hardwick, from Jacksonville, Fla. assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), throws a messaging line to a tug as Tortuga departs Naval Facility White Beach, Okinawa to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold 09.
Cobra Gold is an annual military exercise co-sponsored by Thailand and the United States to train Thai, U.S. and Singaporean Coalition Task Force personnel.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Didier/Released)
Laboon Deploys To 6th Fleet Area
NORFOLK (Feb. 29, 2009) Family members wave good-bye to Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) as the ship leaves its homeport of Norfolk for a six-month deployment.
Laboon will deploy to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility to support theater security cooperation by participating in regional exercises with allies.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Maddelin Angebrand/Released)
January 29, 2009
Sorting Pallets During Vertical Replenishment
GULF OF ADEN (Jan. 17, 2009) Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) sort pallets during a vertical replenishment with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199).
Mahan is assigned to Combined Task Force 151, a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John K. Hamilton/Released)
Ghazni Building Project
GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Jan. 22, 2009) Cmdr. Timothy Callahan, commander, Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), speaks with Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, at a school construction site.
The school is one of many projects designed to support the PRT mission of fostering economic development and building provincial capacity.
Fire Fight
Firefighters from the U.S. Air Force Base 374th Civil Engineer Squadron and the Tokyo Metropolitan Fire Department work together to fight a fire at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Japan building that caught fire at about 6:30 p.m. on Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 20, 2009.
Five More Years
U.S. Army Capt. Scott Coleman re-enlists Cpl. Antwuann Goodson on Camp Taji, Iraq, Jan. 25, 2009.
Coleman is commander for the 4th Infantry Division’s Headquarters Support Company, 404th Aviation Support Battalion, Combat Aviation Brigade, and Goodson is a supply specialist assigned to the support command.
He re-enlisted for five years, a duty assignment in Hawaii and a $9,500 bonus, which puts the support battalion at more than $1 million in re-enlistment bonuses for fiscal year 2009.
Tagab Team
U.S. Army Col. Greg Julian, public affairs officer for the United States Forces, Afghanistan, leads an investigation team to meet with villagers in Tagab, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2009.
The team worked with the Afghan ministeries of defense and information to explore allegations of possible civilian casualties after a recent mission to capture Taliban leaders.
Camp Shelby Now, Iraq Soon
PFC Brian Hults (right) of Alpha Battery, 113th Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Brigade Combat Team, fires a M2 .50 caliber machine gun during training at Camp Shelby, MS.
The soldiers will be deploying with the 30th Brigade Deployment Team, North Carolina Army National Guard to Iraq soon.
Photo by Tech. Brian E. Christiansen, North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs.
Dover Aircrew Delivers Humanitarian Supplies To Nicaragua
Master Sgt. Mike Wright prepares a C-17 Globemaster III to unload humanitarian cargo Jan. 18 at the Managua International Airport, Nicarauga.
Approximately 18,000 pounds of cargo consisting of desks, chairs, file cabinets and books were delivered for use at a Nicaraugan university library. Sergeant Wright is a loadmaster with the Air Force Reserve’s 326th Airlift Squadron from Dover Air Force Base, Del.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)
Read the story here.
Air Station Humboldt Bay Night Flight
MCKINNLEYVILLE, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2009)- A crew from Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay reviews their plan before setting out on a night flight.
The crew will practice lowering and hoisting the recovery basket from the HH-65 Dolphin helicopter to the deck of a Coast Guard Cutter.
Air crews regularly perform practice evolutions with various boats to ensure that they are always ready.
